Collapsible automobile tent, garage, or house frame



Mar. 27, 1923,

1,450,129 E. H. BATTY COLLAPS IBLE AUTOMOBILE TENT, GARAGE, OR HOUSE FRAME Filed May 5, 1921 5 sheets-sheet l J9 J 52 w L g i a 52 55 5/ 48 .56 A2 a5 56 Z l/ r a c u f 22 K 25 7 1r in j 20% y la 4a 49 f El WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Mar. 27, 1923, 1,450,129

E. H. BATTY COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE TENT, GARAGE, 0R HOUSE FRAME Filed May 5, 1921 5 sheets-sheet 2 loo WITNESS: A'ri'oRNEY Mar. 27, 1923, 1,450,129 E. H. BATTY COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE TENT, GARAGE, OR HOUSE FRAME Filed May 5, 1921 3 sheets-sheet 5 /7 46 22 E 2:23 a 20 20 J 49 Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

/ ELIJAH H, BATTY, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE TENT, GARAGE, OR HOUSE Application filed May 3, 1921. Serial No. 466,463.

To allwhom it 7710(1/ concern.

which the following s a specification.

This invention relates to building struc tures, particularly to those of the collapsi ble type, and has for its object the'provision of a collapsible frame for an automobile tent or other similar portable structures such as might be effectually used in the construction of'sheds, small housesof various types and other purposes.

An important object is the provision of a collapsible frame which may be shipped in knock-down condition and which is so constructed that it may be quickly and easily assembled and set up in position ready to be covered w'i'th canvas, in case it is desired to construct a tent, or to be covered with sheathing of any kind in case it is desired to construct a shed or other similar building. l

A further object is the provision of a frame of this character in which the various parts are hingedly connected and in which certain parts are detachably connected so that 'the different portions may be easily assembled and yet held firmly in position, the invention further contemplating the provision of a novel locking means for holding the sections in rigid position so that displacement will be impossible.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be inexpensive to manufacture very light 'in weight, easy to assemble or disassemble as the case may be, highly efficient in use, durable iniservice and a general improvement in the. art;

With the. above and other objects in view, the'invention consists in the details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully de scribed; and ,claimed,-and illustrated in the companying T@ l g h h,-

Figurel is a side elevationof. my frame in se't;up.position.

Figure 2 is a top planview, Figure 3 is an end elevation Figure 4: isa central. crossssectional view,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view looking at the inside of one end.

Figure 6 is a detail section taken through one corner.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through one of the uprights.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the upright or supporting posts.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail viewsof the locking means employed.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame which includes a plurality ofup-,

rights designated by the numeral 15 and all of which are similar in construction. Each of these uprights includes a lower section 16 and an upper section 17 which are formed of suitable material such as wood or'steel of any desired cross-sectional configuration and of any proper dimensionto have the necessary strength.

' The sections 16 and 17 are hingedly connected as shown at 18. Secured upon one of the sections of each upright is the stationary leaf 19 of a lock structure 20 which includes a hinged leaf having an elongated slot 21 adapted to bepassed over a staple 22 rotatably mounted upon a plate 23 secured upon the other section. The purpose of this hasp and staple 22 isto lock the sec tions of the uprights against pivotal movement and in order to effect this it is of course necessary that this hasp structure which constitutes the locking device be dis posed on the side of the upright opposite the hinge 18. each upper section 17 is a plate 2 1 which extends considerably beyond the upper end of the upright. Embedded within the upper end of each upper section l? is an up wardly extending bolt 25 for a purpose to be described.

The uprights 15 just described constitute the corner post of my frame and may course be of any desired length depending upon the height of the wall of the tent or other building to be. constructed.-

Disposed upon the. upper end of eachpair of. upright corner posts 15' are the hinged members each of which is formed'of a pair of triangular frames 28 including vertical bars 29-, horizontal bars 30 and inclined bars 31. The vertical bars '29 of 'theassociatecl frames-'28 are hingedly connected-as show-n Secured upon the upper end of at 32. The frames 28 are also connected by means of locking devices 33 disposed upon opposite sides thereof and of exactly the same construction as the locking devices used at the hinged connections of the corner post sections. The outer ends of the horizontal bars 30 are recessed as indicated at 3 1 for a purpose to be described. Secured upon the outer ends of the frames 28 are metal strips or straps 35 which cooperate with the recesses 3 1 to define sockets 36. The outer ends of the frames 28 are likewise formed with vertically extendingholes 37 which pass through the straps 35 and which are for the purpose of receiving the bolts 25. The meeting ends-of the bars 31 are recessed as indicated at 38. Disposed between and recessed into each pair of bars 29 is avertically extending bolt 39.

Thenumeral 4O designates the side bars which are preferably formed of similar sections 41 hingedly connected as indicated at 4:2 and provided with locking devices 4:3

identical with the locking devices 33. The. ends of the side bars 10 are engaged within the sockets 36 and are formed with holes 1 1 for the passage of the bolts 25.- After the frames 28 are inposition upon the corner posts with the ends of the bars engaged within the sockets 36 with the bolts 25 passing through the holes in the end members and the side bars, nuts 4:5 are screwed upon the upper ends of the bolts 25 for preventing separation of the parts. I

The end members formedby the frames 28 are supported at their hinged connections by means of vertical posts 46 which are identical with the parts 15 except that they are each provided with two of the plates 21 for engaging against opposite sides of the end frames 28 as clearly shown.

In order to support the central portion, that is the hinged connection of the sections of the sidebars 10, I provide posts 47 which are identical with the posts "15 and which carry at their upper ends upwardly extending bolts, 18, corresponding to the bolts 25.

I also make useof an intermediate cross member 19 identical in construction with the end frame 28 and held in association with the side bars l0 and posts 47 in exactly the same manner. The lower ends of the posts 15, 46 and 47 are-provided with pins a9 engaging through holes in disks d9 adapted to rest upon the ground and which are for the purpose of preventing the posts from sinking into soft ground or sand.

The numeral 50 designates the ridge bar which is likewise formed of hingedly connected sections 51 hinged as at 52 and provided with locking devices 53 identical with the locking devices 33. The ends of the I ridge bar 50 seat within the recesses 38 in the end frames 28 and the intermediate portion seats within the corresponding recess in the intermediate upper cross member. This ridge bar is formed with holes for the passage of the bolts 39, and nuts 55 are threaded onto these bolts for holding the ridge bar against displacement.

After the frame has been constructed and assembled as above described, it is of course apparent that it may be covered with any firmly-in position and anchoring it down to the ground so as to'prevent it from being blown over in case of a wind storm.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequentlyinexpensive knockdown tent frame which may be quickly and easily assembled without-any necessity for the employment of special. tools, which is so light in construction and free from complications that it may be readily assembled by a single person, which will be highly efli cient and durable in use and which will efficiently perform all the functions for which it is intended.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is of course to be readily understood'that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. 'VVhatI claim is:

1. A collapsible frame of the character described comprising a plurality of uprightposts formed of hingedly connected sections, means for holding said sections against-pivotal movement, end members carried by each pair of upright posts andeach formed of a pair of hingedly connected triangular frames, socket members at the outer ends.

' each holes, bolts extending upwardly from the ends of the posts and passing through said holes, side bars having their ends engaged within said sockets and formed with holes for the passage of said bolts, the upper inner ends of said frames being formed with recesses, and a ridge bar having its ends seating within said recesses and detachably 20 connected with the end members.

In testlmony whereof I affixmy signature.

ELIJAH H. BATTY. 

